Recycling is an essential part of reducing waste and conserving resources, but it’s not without its challenges. While it offers significant environmental benefits as a whole, certain recycling processes can be inefficient or result in contamination, high energy consumption, or high costs.
At ETM Recycling, we’re committed to helping businesses in Bristol and Bath achieve the most effective recycling solution. In this article, we’ll discuss how you can ensure your recycling is always being processed in the most efficient way, saving you time and money while helping to protect the environment.
Secure your recycling solution today by getting in touch.
The Importance of Recycling
Protecting our natural environment and resources is vital to the continuation of our society. Without recycling, we’d need to use virgin materials for every product, which would quickly ramp up costs and cause lasting ecological harm.
By recycling and utilising recycled materials, we can keep reliance on virgin materials to a minimum – using what we already have in combination with sustainable resources to ensure we feed back into the waste cycle.
For businesses, recycling also comes with additional benefits. These include:
- Lower waste handling and processing costs
- Better sustainability
- Increased availability of recycled materials (which are generally cheaper)
However, to achieve these benefits, you first need to understand what the challenges and drawbacks of recycling can be.
Common Recycling Challenges and Drawbacks
The main reason why recycling comes with drawbacks is twofold: infrastructure and efficiency. Below, we’ll go into detail on these two factors, as well as list a few examples of recyclable materials that can be challenging to process.
Outdated Infrastructure
In the UK, some recycling infrastructure is outdated or simply unavailable, leading to complexity in recycling methods. Waste that can be recycled at these sites may result in lower efficiency for its conversion, or even a loss compared to simply sending it to a landfill!
Another option includes sending the waste abroad, which has its own logistical challenges and fuel costs – as well as removing our control over where the waste will ultimately end up.
Inefficient Recycling Methods
Both due to outdated infrastructure and to the speed at which we discover and utilise new recycling innovations, the recycling methods used for certain materials or processes can be inefficient. As mentioned previously, this could result in waste being unfeasible to recycle.
Special treatments, high energy requirements, and complex testing processes can quickly add up in both environmental impact and cost, making alternative solutions like burning or landfill become the more viable options.
Expensive Recycling Requirements
Even if we have the infrastructure, and we have the most effective methods, recycling can simply be too expensive. Most recycling methods require manpower, energy, and assets to achieve, which can result in the material output not being worth the input cost.
This factor can be monitored and reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and may level itself out as the cost of resultant goods rises from the high input costs.
If you’re struggling with recycling costs for your business, get in touch with our experts to discuss potential solutions.
Discover the most valuable recycling materials >
E-Waste Recycling
Waste electronics can be an incredibly tricky thing to navigate when it comes to recycling. They’re made up of complex, often valuable components – but in amounts small enough to be near-negligible on their own. When looking at the bigger picture, however, these materials add up a lot.
Different electricals have different components, meaning no one solution will fit all devices. This is an incredibly complex and evolving field for recycling, and requires specialist knowledge to navigate and achieve maximum success.
Wood Waste Recycling
Under the latest wood waste regulations, there are now particular considerations when it comes to recycling waste wood from construction. These regulations separate wood waste out into different categories depending on its origin and installation date, aimed at removing potentially toxic material from circulation.
Pre ’07 and Grade D wood require special testing and treatment before they can be recycled. This process can be time consuming and expensive, and it’s often both more economically and environmentally beneficial to just burn the wood for energy reclamation.
Other Complex Waste
There’s a huge list of items that are complex to recycle, each with their own considerations and processes. These include:
- Complex plastics
- Textiles
- Ink cartridges
- Batteries
- Paint
Along with a whole host of other items, these materials require specialised knowledge and facilities to effectively process. However, by working with a good waste management partner, you can ensure your waste ends up in the right channels – achieving maximum sustainability.
Solutions for Improving Your Recycling Rate
It’s not all doom and gloom when it comes to recycling. Here are our top four solutions you can start utilising today to help you improve your rate of recycling:
- Use Recycled Materials. Wherever possible, use recycled materials in your products. These can often be recycled again, making them a renewable resource that can be perpetually re-used. Additionally, these materials are often cheaper, improving costs for your business.
- Cut Down on Material Requirements. Make packaging thinner or make your process more resource efficient. Discover ways you can improve your own products to reduce the need for expensive and environmentally impactful materials, creating a better foundation for recycling and sustainability.
- Improve Employee Awareness. One of the biggest challenges businesses face when it comes to recycling is ensuring the right waste ends up in the right place. By educating your employees on which waste belongs in which bin along with proper disposal methods, you’ll maximise your recycling rate.
- Work with a Waste Management Partner. Achieving specialist knowledge in recycling won’t happen overnight – unless you work with an industry expert. By leaving your recycling up to a professional, you ensure it can reach optimum recyclability without the need for excessive personal involvement.
Get Better Waste Management with ETM Recycling
Now that you know the challenges of recycling, it’s time to start working on a solution. By utilising a reliable waste management partner like ETM Recycling, you can offload the complex strategic decision-making for your waste – ensuring everything ends up in the most appropriate location.
To streamline your recycling process and achieve maximum efficiency, get in touch today.
Check out our beginner’s guide to recycling construction materials >
